Baddeck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baddeck
Mi'kmawi'simk: Apatakwitk
Scottish Gaelic: Badaig
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Village
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The Kidston Island Lighthouse which also appears on the village seal.
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 Baddeck
Location in Nova Scotia
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Nova Scotia |
| Municipality | Victoria County |
| Incorporated | 1908 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Village commission |
| Area | |
| • Land | 2.08 km2 (0.80 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 67 m (220 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 818 |
| • Density | 388.6/km2 (1,006/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (ADT) |
| Canadian Postal Code |
B0E 1B0
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| Area code(s) | 902 |
| Telephone Exchange | 295 |
| NTS Map | 11K2 Baddeck |
| GNBC Code | CABFY |
| Website | http://www.baddeckvillage.ca |
Baddeck is a small village in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located in the middle of Cape Breton Island. The village is about 6 kilometers east of where the Baddeck River flows into Bras d'Or Lake.
Baddeck is governed by Victoria County. It also has an elected village council. In 2021, about 818 people lived in Baddeck.
The first settlers arrived in the late 1700s. Baddeck grew in the 1800s with mining, milling, and shipbuilding. Today, the village relies on services, cultural events, and tourism.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Baddeck is one of the few places in Nova Scotia with a name from the Mi'kmaq language. The Mi'kmaq people originally called it Apatakwitk. This name might mean "reversing flow" or "place with an island nearby." It could also mean "a portion of food set aside."
The French called it La Bedeque. People who spoke Canadian Gaelic called it Badaig.
A Look Back in Time
French Jesuits first settled near Baddeck in 1629. British settlers came to the area in the 1700s. This was after France gave the land to Great Britain.
In 1839, an inn, a tavern, and a post office were built. In 1841, Charles James Campbell opened a store. He also started shipbuilding and coal mining.
In 1851, Baddeck became the main town for the new Victoria County. It got a jail and a court house. Baddeck became famous in 1874. This was when a travel book called Baddeck, And That Sort of Thing was published.
Alexander Graham Bell's Home
In 1885, the family of Alexander Graham Bell visited Baddeck. Bell was the inventor of the telephone. He loved the area so much that he built a large home and laboratory there. He named his estate Beinn Bhreagh. This means "beautiful mountain" in Scottish Gaelic.
At first, it was a summer home. But Bell spent more and more time there. He did many experiments at Beinn Bhreagh. In 1909, the first controlled flight in Canada happened there. This was with his airplane, the AEA Silver Dart.
From 1885 to 1928, the estate also had the Bell Boatyard. This boatyard built both experimental and traditional boats. It was special because many women worked there as boatbuilders.
Today, you can visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. It celebrates Bell's life and inventions.
Where is Baddeck?
Baddeck is built on rocks from the Carboniferous period. These rocks include rock salt, limestone, and gypsum. These materials can dissolve easily in water. This creates interesting features like caves and sinkholes in the area.
Weather in Baddeck
Baddeck has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 36.7 degrees Celsius in August 1935. The coldest was -32.2 degrees Celsius in February 1883.
Who Lives in Baddeck?
In 2021, the population of Baddeck was 818 people. This was a small change from its 2016 population of 826. The village covers a land area of about 2.11 square kilometers.
Fun Things to Do
Baddeck is a great place for visitors. It hosts many events and has interesting historic sites.
- Celtic Colours Festival: Each fall, Baddeck is one of the communities that hosts this music festival. It brings together hundreds of Celtic musicians from Cape Breton and around the world.
- Cabot Trail Relay Race: In the spring, the village hosts this long relay race. Runners go around the scenic Cabot Trail. The race is 298 kilometers (185 miles) long!
- Cabot Trail: This famous scenic route passes right through Baddeck. It's known for its beautiful views.
Historic Buildings to See
Baddeck has several old and interesting buildings:
- Telegraph House hotel: Built in 1861, this hotel became famous after being in the 1874 book Baddeck, And That Sort of Thing. It once housed a company that pioneered the telegraph.
- Saint Peter's and Saint John's Anglican Church: This wooden church was built in 1883. It is designed in the Gothic Revival style.
- Gilbert H. Grosvenor Hall: Built in 1886, this building is made of local red sandstone. It was originally the Baddeck Post Office and Custom House.
- Victoria County Court House: This building from 1889 is made of wood and granite. It is built in the Neoclassical style.
- Bras d'Or House: Built around 1894, this building has been changed a lot over time. Today, it has apartments and a Chinese restaurant.
- St. Mark's Masonic Lodge: Built in 1898, this lodge looks like a church. It has many interesting details, though some are now covered.
- Kidston Island Lighthouse: Built in 1912, you can reach this lighthouse by ferry in the summer.
Learning in Baddeck
Baddeck Academy is the local school. It serves students from primary grades all the way to grade 12.
Other Services
- Bras d'Or Yacht Club
- Bell Bay Golf Club
- Baddeck (Guneden) Aerodrome
Gallery
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Women workers at Bell's shipyard
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Victoria County Court House
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Telegraph House
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Old post office and customs house
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Alexander and Mabel Bell statue
